Swimming pool surface skimmer



March 12, 1968 c. F. SPITZER SWIMMING POOL SURFACE SKIMMER 2 Sheets Sheet 1 Filed April 29, 1965 EIEIDDDE DEIDUU UUDDU EIDEJEIU UEIUEI [IUD DUE! INVENTOR #9041 23/ /7267? BY M 9 4140; ATTORNEYS March 12, 1968 c, n- 3,372,809

' SWIMMING POOL SURFACE SKIMMER Filed Apiil 29, 1965 2' Sheets-Sheet 2 6 4.41%; 4 F 5P1 r25? ATTORNEYS INVENTOR United States Patent SWIMMlNG POOL SURFACE SKIMMER Carroll F. Spitzer, Rte. 3, Hagerstown, Md. 21740 Filed Apr. 29, 1965, Ser. No. 451,808

3, Claims. (Cl. 210-169) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Apparatus for bringing water up from the lower region of a swimming pool, filtering this water to remove submerged debris therefrom, jetting the filtered water tangentially to the pool water surface and into a reticulated structure only partly submerged 'below the pool water surface in order to establish and maintain water circulation in the pool and to catch floating debris in the reticulated structure.

The foregoing abstract is not intended to be a comprehensive discussion of all of the principles, possible modes or applications of the invention disclosed in this document and should not be used to interpret the scope of the claims which appear at the end of this specification.

The present invention relates to swimming pool maintenance equipment and more particularly to apparatus for removing floating material such as leaves, grass cuttings and insects from the surfaces of swimming pools in an inexpensive yet eflicient manner.

In order to maintain swimming pools in an attractive and helthful condition, it is necessary not only to purify the water therein, for instance by chlorinating it, but also to'remove settled and floating debris from the pool. Settled debris is usually removed by means such as a pool vacuum cleaner which includes brush means for dislodging settled debris from the pool bottom and subaquatic wall surfaces and a section having a suction conduit whose extremity is located adjacent the brush means so that the debris dislodged is sucked into the conduit with pool water as a carrier. Usually filter means are provided to which the removed pool water and debris is directed by the conduit. At this point the debris is separated from the pool water and the latter, now filtered is returned to the pool.

Most often the apparatus for removing floating debris from the surface region of the pool comprises entirely separate equipment from the pool filter means just described. The skimming means for pools conventionally includes manually operated apparatus such as strainers having long handles attached thereto for facilitating selective scooping of visible debris from the surface. Passive means such as permanently installed weir-type drains peripherally of the pool at the intended water level thereof comprise other pool skimming means conventionally employed.

A basic drawback of the skimming means just described is that they do not of themselves uniformly patrol the whole surface of an average pool to elficiently remove ebris before material amounts of it because waterlogged and sink. In addition the manually operated skimmers require the constant vigilence of an attendant to make sure thatjdebris does not accumulate more rapidly than it is being removed.

Accordingly, it is a basic object of the present invention to provide an automatic pool skimming apparatus that economically and efficiently removes floating debris from pool surfaces.

Another object of the invention is the provision in the environment described of apparatus for bringing water up fromthe lower region of a'swimming pool, filtering this water to remove submerged debris therefrom, jetting the filtered water tangentially to the pool water surface 3,372,809 Patented Mar. 12, 1968 and into a reticulated structure only partly submerged below the pool water surface in order to establish and maintain water circulation in the pool and to catch floating debris in the reticulated structure.

In other terms, it is an object of the invention to provide a pool skimmer in the form of a floating, partly submerged screen bag mounted for receiving the output of a recirculating pool filter in jet-like fashion.

These and still other objects of the present invention will become more clearly apparent during the course of the following detailed discussion relating to preferred embodiments of the invention which are illustrated in the attached drawings.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective View of a swimming pool surface skimmer bag and jet according to the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation view of pool filtering apparatus incorporating the surface skimmer of FIG- URE 1, parts of the filter being broken away to expose features otherwise hidden;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary side elevation view of the pool filtering apparatus of FIGURE 2 to which a pool cleaning subassembly has been mounted, pool skimming apparatus according to the present invention being included therewith;

FIGURE 4 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially along line 44 of FIGURE 3; and

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view taken substantially along the line 5-5 of FIGURE 3.

The skimmer 11 as shown in FIGURE 1 includes a reticulated bag 13 preferably composed of thermoplastic screening secured to itself along the margins thereof to form a bag having only one open end 15. Alternative material could be used to form the bag 13 such as bronze or other metallic screening, or a textile fabric.

In use the mouth 15 of the bag 13 is held open by virtue of a spreader hoop such as a strap 17 of metal or other relatively stiff material hemmed into the bag 13, for instance by a fold 19 of screening and stitching 21 The jet for inducing a flow of surface water from the pool into the bag 13 includes a tube 23 which is shown secured to the strap 17 by a bolt 25 inserted through a radially directed hold 27 in the tube intermediate the ends of the tube, the bolt being secured to the strap 17 by means such as a peened-on nut 29. The arrangement just described allows the bag 13 to freely pivot about the bolt 25 to align the bag with the jet. Alternatisve securement of the tube 23 to the bag 13 could include diverse means such as a U-clamp frictionally engaging the tube 23 and secured to the strap 17 by a pair of wing nuts and bolts.

The inner end 31 of the tube 23 projects a short way into the bag 13, for instance two inches into the bag and is preferably cut at an angle as shown best in FIGURES l and 3 to restrain the water issuing therefrom against upward movement during operation of the skimmer.

The outer end 33 of the tube 23 is adapted to be communicated to a pumped stream of water, preferably the outlet of a pool filter as shown in FIGURES 2 and 3. As shown, the bag 13 floats partly submerged in the water so that the jet tube 23 emits water into the bag. When the bag 13 is disposed so that the mouth of the bag lies in a plane perpendicularly to the adjacent. pool wall 82 as shown best in FIGURE 2, a clockwise (with the skimmer in the orientation shown) circulation of the surface region of the pool water is set up by the jet. As water of the surface region is carried into the floating bag 13 by the jet floating debris such as twigs, grass, insects and the like is caught by the bag and the skimmed water 5 issues through the rear region of the bag.

Referring now more particularly to FIGURE 2 the preferred pool filter includes an electric motor 12 having the power takeoff shaft 14 thereof directed axially downwardly and enclosed within an axially extending shaft protecting tube 16. At its lower end the shaft 14 receives an impeller 18 which is surrounded at its upper and radially outer extent by an impeller housing 20.

As illustrated, the housing 2% includes a generally laterally and tangentially ext-ending outlet tube or conduit 22 to which the tube 23 of the skimmer 11 is connected and which communicates with the chamber 24 defined within the impeller housing 2%). At its lower extent the housing 2%} terminates in a generally horizontal, centrally apertured disk-like plate 26.

The filter case 32 of the pool filter apparatus shown comprises a centrally apertured, disk-like integral top wall 34- having a central aperture 36 and an annular downwardly depending flange 38 integrally joined to said top wall peripherally adjacent said aperture 36 and having a radially inner extent arranged to a peripherally engage the intake tube 28 so as to position the same within the filter case in alignment with the plate aperture 39 so as to communicate therethrough with the impeller chamber 24 centrally thereof. The axially extending intake tube 28 has a plurality of radially extending openings 29 therethrough through which filtered water is withdrawn from the filter case by the impeller 18.

The disk-like top wall 34 of the filter case is preferably secured to the impeller housing by means such as a plurality of screws 40 threaded radially inwardly into the top wall 34 and into the arcuately spaced, downwardly depending legs 41 of the housing 20. The legs 41 are received in appropriate notches in the top wall exterior. Alternate means such as peripheral threading on said top and legs could be advantageously employed instead of screws 40.

A tubular reticulated case side wall 42 is integrally joined at its upper extent to the top wall 34-. The case 32 is completed by a disk-like cap 44 having an integral upwardly directed peripheral annular flange 48. The cap 44 is preferably removably secured to the case side wall 42 at the lower end thereof, for instance by internal threads on the cap flange 43 and external threads on the case side wall adjacent its lower end. Disk-like resilient gaskets and 51 are preferably interposed between the cap inner face 52 and the case side wall axially lower extent 54 and subjacent the top wall 34 respectively to prevent fluid leakage from the pool into the filter case between the cap and the side wall or leakage around the ends of the filter element to be described. The resilient gasket 51 is centrally apertured at 53 so as to radially engage the flange 38. A cylindrical plug 55 is slidingly received within the lower end of the intake tube 28 to provide a seal against water entering tube 28 from the bottom thereof.

As shown the side wall 42' includes a plurality of inlet openings 56 extending generally radially therethrough over substantially the entire extent of the side wall.

As seen in FIGURES 2, 4 and 5, the filter case 3-2 receives a reusable pleated filter element 58 having a plurality of longitudinally extending, generally radially projecting flutes or convolutions 60. Preferably the element 58 is composed of resin coated paper as is known in the art.

The longitudinal axial extent of the filter element 58 is such that it engages the resilient gaskets 50 and 51 adjacent the filter case top wall and bottom cap respectively so that incoming, unfiltered water is effectively pre vented from passing around the ends of the filter element. Accordingly, when the pool filter assembly shown in FIGURE 2 is partially submerged in a pool as shown and the pump including the motor, shaft and impeller operated water is drawn from the pool through the case side wall openings 56 and through the filter element 58 where foreign, matter and impurities are removed and caught by the filter element. The purified water passing 4 through the filter element enters the intake tube 28 through the openings 29, is drawn upwardly in the tube" to the impeller chamber and expelled therefrom into the skimmer through the outlet conduit 22 and the tube 23, through the skimmer screening and into the pool.

The filter case and cap are preferably formed from inexpensive, durable material such as vinyl butyrate plastic, although other materials such as-aluminum or stainless steel could be employed in some instances.

The pool filter 10 and skimmer 11 are shown in FIG- URE 2 positioned for operation in an above ground pool 32 by submersion up to a point between the motor and the filter case so that the skimmerbag 13 is partly submerged and partly arching above the surface of the pool water. The assembly is supported by a bracket 64 preferably composed ofmetal such as stainless steel or aluminum. Itcomprises a generally horizontallyextending arm 66 secured as by bolts 68 at its outer end to the motor 12, and having a generally vertically upwardly directed flange 70 at its inner end. The flange 7.0 has an opening 72 therethrough adapted to receive a fastener 74 such as a thumbscrew for removable securement of the arm 66 to support element 76. This latter element includes a generally vertically extending portion 78 having a plurality of vertically spaced openings 80 therethrough which the fastener 74 can be alternately secured to adjust the filter 10 so that the filter case and outlet conduit are submerged and thus compensate for differing water depths with respect to the pool wall upper extent.

The lower end of the support element portion 78 includes an outwardly scrolled portion 81 positionable as shown to hold the filter assembly in an upright condition and hold the support portion 78 out from the pool side wall 82. The support element 76 is completed by an outwardly hooked portion 84 extending from the upper end of the vertical portion 78. The hook 84 is adapted to hook over and be supported on the upper extent or coping 86 of the pool side wall 82.

An opening 88 near the free end of the hook 84 receives a securing device 90 such as a thumb screw which is utilized to removably secure the bracket and filter to the pool side wall.

Apparatus for adapting the assembly shown in FIG- URE 2 for cleaning the submerged side wall and bottom surfaces of the pool is shown in FIGURES 35.

This subassembly includes a chamber 92 adapted to surround the filter case. The chamber 92 as shown includes a disk shaped bottom or cap 94 secured to the larger diameter lower end of the frusto-conical side wall 96. As best seen in FIGURE 5, the side wall 96 terminates in a radially outwardly directed circumferentially extending flange or lip 98. A plurality of over the center clamps 100 are secured to the chamber side wall adjacent the lip 98. A radially expansible and contra-ctable O- clamp 102 is positioned radially outwardly of the filter case top 34.

A resilient annular washer 103 is interposed between the top 34 and the clamp 102. The clamp is then tightened thus compressing the washer 103 and frictionally securing the O-olamp to the filter case. To secure the chamber 92 in position as shown in'FIGURE 3, the lip 98 is presented against the lower surface of the O-clamp 102 and the over-the-center clamps 100 snapped over the O-clamp 102. It should be apparent that the fastening means just discussed is exemplary and could be replaced by equivalent removable securing means such as peripheral threading on the exterior of the filter case near the top thereof and complementary peripheral threads on the interior of the chamber side wall 96 adjacent the upper extent thereof.

Asbest seen in FIGURE 3, the chamber 92 has an interior which is substantially larger than the filter case particularly near the lower extent of the chamber.

The chamber side wall additionally includes an opening 106 near the lower end thereof.

An annular hose fitting 103 is shown received through the opening 106 and secured therein by a threaded annulus 110. Alternately the entire chamber including the hose fitting could be integrally molded, for instance from thermoplastic material such as a vinyl resin.

The operation of the apparatus in the pool submerged wall surface cleaning mode thereof can best be explained with reference to FIGURE 3. A conventional pool cleaning brush (not shown) attached to a flexible hose F116 is removably secured by a conventional fitting 118 to the chamber carried hose fitting 108.

In use the pump unit previously described is turned on and the brush reciprocated over the submerged pool Wall surfaces. As the brush removes foreign material and sediment from the wall surfaces, the water in the locus of the brush is sucked through the brush carrying the removed foreign material and sediment with it. This impure water travels through the wand and hose to the chamber 92 interior, through the filter case intake openings as described hereinabove and through the pleated filter where the foreign material and sediment are removed. The water thus filtered is drawn up the perforated intake tube, through the impeller chamber and out the impeller chamber discharge conduit and into the skimmer 11 where it sets up the surface circulation of the pool water as described hereinbefore which carries floating debris into the skimmer bag 13 where it is caught and can be conveniently removed.

Because the filter unit is easily movable around the periphery of the pool by virtue of the novel mounting bracket described hereinbefore neither a plurality of such units, nor excessively long flexible hosing for the pool brush are needed when the unit is utilized for a family sized swimming pool or the like. Additionally inasmuch as the unit 10 is easily convertible between its filtering and pool cleaning modes, separate units to perform these operations are not necessary and a substantial saving is effected.

It should now he noticed that because the pool skimmer according to the present invention is attached to the discharge side of a pool filter means which brings up Water from near the pool bottom, operation of the apparatus as described results in a highly desirable and efficient integrated circulation of the pool water which includes bringing water from the lower region of the pool up to and through the filter assembly shown in FIG- URES 2 or 3, out the outlet thereof and into the pool adjacent and tangential to the upper surface of the pool Water thus effecting a clockwise or counterclockwise circulation of the upper surface region of the pool water depending on the orientation of the jet and skimmer bag with respect to the pool.

It is apparent that the novel apparatus of the invention just discussed in regard to the preferred embodiment shown in the drawings effectively accomplishes each of the inventions objects as set forth hereinbefore and makes the inventions principles clearly understandable. Inasmuch as the embodiment depicted can be modified somewhat without departing from these principles the invention should be understood as encompassing all modifications which are within the spirit and scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A pool skimmer including: a reticulated bag having means defining an open mouth, said bag being adapted to be disposed in a partly submerged condition in a swimming pool; a tube projecting into said bag through the mouth of the bag, means for directing a pressurized stream of water into said bag through said tube tangentially to the upper surface of said pool thereby setting up a circulation of the upper surface region of the water of said pool which carries water from the surface region into the bag through the mouth thereof and wherein floating debris is removed from the water passing through the bag; the reticulated bag being comprised of thermoplastic screening secured to itself along portions of the periphery thereof to form a bag, and further comprising a stiff hoop secured to the bag peripherally of the mouth thereof to retain the mouth in an open condition; the means for directing a pressurized stream of Water into the bag comprising: a pump, a first conduit communicated to the suction side of the pump and communicated to the pool water materially below the upper surface of the pool water and a second conduit communicated to the pressure side of said pump and to said tube; water filtering means surrounding said first conduit and communicated thereto whereby water entering said first conduit is filtered; said pool skimmer further including means for securing said pump to one side wall of said pool so that the mouth of said bag is oriented in a substantially vertical plane which is perpendicular to said one side wall.

2. Swimming pool skimmer apparatus comprising: a pump having a suction side and a pressure side; a first conduit connected to the pump suction side and having an end disposable near the bottom of the swimming pool for bringing up water from the lower region of the swimming pool; a water filter interposed in the first conduit for filtering the water brought up from the lower region of the swimming pool to remove debris submerged in the swimming pool therefrom; a second conduit connected to the pump pressure side; a reticulated bag having means defining a mouth opening horizontally, only partly submerged in the swimming pool; said second conduit having an end directed into the mouth of the reticulated bag tangentially of the swimming pool water upper surface for jetting water into the reticulated bag to establish and maintain water circulation in the swimming pool and catch floating debris in the reticulated bag.

3. The swimming pool skimmer of claim 2 wherein said second conduit end extends into the bag; the skimmer further including securement means pivotally securing the bag at the mouth thereof to the second conduit near said end for pivotal movement of the bag about a substantially vertical axis, whereby said bag is automatically aligned with the circuation of water in the swimming pool at the upper surface of the water in the swimming pool.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,725,356 ll/1955 Lombardi 210-169 X 2,989,185 6/1961 Lombardi 210-169 X 3,063,077 11/1962 Pansini 210-469 X 3,282,430 11/1966 Kinne 210-162 FOREIGN PATENTS 590,252 1/1960 Canada.

SAMIH N. ZAHARNA, Primary Examiner. FRANK MEDLEY, Examiner. 

